President

She/Her

Pulwisha is a first generation Pakistani immigrant that fell in love with pole in 2016. Coming from a conservative muslim family she had to hide her passion for pole for many years.

She was often the only person of colour /only south asian face in her classes and on stage at national level competitions. She was quickly faced with the harsh realities that marginalized and racialized folks too often experience in this industry.

She transitioned to teaching in 2018 while working on her Canadian Pole Fitness Association certification. The more she learned about the state of the pole industry in Canada the clearer it became that aerialist of colour had very limited opportunities to participate in this industry at a decision maker level.

No longer feeling safe nor welcome in traditional pole studios she felt it was now up to her to create an inclusive space built by and for marginalized and racialized aerialists.

In February of 2021 with the help of her board she took the plunge and incorporated CEAPAC as a non-profit society.

Fun Fact: She can speak five languages (though she is a bit rusty at a few)

@paripurinn

Interim Vice President

She/Her

After her conservative Filipino mother suggested pole as a way to stay active and build cardio, Lanie fell head over heels for the strength, flexibility, and sensual aspects of pole in 2014. As a national level powerlifter, she appreciates the balance pole gives to her strength journey. She finds recovery and creativity when she dances, especially in her heels.

Lanie joined CEAPAC after experiencing fatphobia, racism, and witnessing other harms within the industry (like sex work stigmatization), desiring a space that provided a non-judgmental and inclusive approach to pole. She is an advocate for the development of inclusive spaces for marginalized communities and the dismantling of structures that perpetuate harm. Communities hold power for change, advocacy, and accountability, and Lanie sees CEAPAC as a collaborative effort to create meaningful change.

In her spare time away from CEAPAC and Powerlifting, Lanie is a grad student— she just finished her Master of Health Studies and is pursuing a postgraduate degree in Sexual Health Education. She also enjoys streaming on Twitch and being a nuisance in video games.

Fun fact: She can out lift most people

@mintowls

Treasurer/Secretary

She/her

Nicole is a tree-hugging hippie who has way too many hobbies. Pole dance being one of them. She has been training in pole fitness and dance for 5 years though she wants to subtract one because did 2020 even really happen?

When she not training you can find her sewing her own clothes, cooking, biking, camping, reading, singing, gallivanting with friends, and talking way too much. Seriously, ask her the time and she’ll probably tell you how a watch is made.

The world needs more people powered spaces that aren’t driven entirely by profits. It also needs more places that genuinely listen to people and care about their unique perspectives. We need more places where folks of all shapes, sizes, colour, background, and gender, are truly welcome and can train without judgement. When an opportunity to be part of and to help build up such a space came around she couldn’t say no.

Fun fact: She is obsessed with sixties fashion and music and have quite the collection of vintage garb from the era. She also loves sewing with vintage fabric when I can find it

@nicoleagogo